COTONOU (Benin) – It is not unlikely that the Republic of Benin share the fantasy of making an impact during the 2022 FIBA U18 African Championship.

Heading to Antananarivo, Madagascar, the players are sure ready to put up a good show knowing that only their best is expected having made the final roster.

It was back in 2016 that Benin last featured in this championship when they finished in the 11th position with a 0-6 record.

Indeed, the 2016 edition held in Kigali, Rwanda had 11 countries in attendance and Benin would have wished for a better performance.

The 2022 edition is another opportunity for Benin to make up for the past and for the players to ink their name in history with the hindsight that the best position they have reached is 8th in 2014 when the completion was held in Madagascar.

A trip back to the city of Antananarivo will hold found memories as this team will seek an improved performance.

Benin will be banking on an improved junior league to make the difference despite having no other history in the U16 cadre.

Given the growth and the new look that Benin basketball has witnessed in the past two years, some determination on the part of the players may well leave book makers on the wrong side should they upset the form books.

On the paper, the Benin team is certainly no match for the likes of Egypt, Mali, Senegal, Angola and the others but who says that an upset is no possible.

Given the strategic plan of the Benin Basketball Federation in joining the ranks of the big basketball nations, the players sure have a tall task on their hands.

Team: Benin
FIBA Ranking: N/A
Last participation at FIBA U18 African Championship: 2016 (11th place).
Best result at FIBA U18 African Championship: Eight place (2014).
How they qualified for the 2022 FIBA U18 African Championship: Benin were the only team available team for the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers, and, as a result, they earned an automatic qualification for the Final Round.
World: Benin have never qualified for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
History/Qualification: Benin made their debut at the U18 African Championship in 2014 and followed up with another appearance in 2016.

Outlook: An uphill task is before Benin but the team will seek to improve on past outings. It won’t be easy playing the other nine nations in this championship. However, the fact that they are part of the championship may well be the turning point for the young Squirrels.

FIBA